Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.
1. A method for reducing read latency of a storage media associated with at least one host computer, by at least one processor, the method comprising assigning each storage segment of the non-volatile storage to a first RLS and a second RLS, wherein the first RLS is attributed a read/write mode and the second RLS is attributed a read-only mode; upon receiving a high priority data-write request from the at least one host computer: writing the high priority data into a first storage segment referenced by a first RLS that is attributed a read/write work mode; writing the data into a RAM device simultaneously to writing the data into the storage segment referenced by the first RLS; switching the work mode of the first RLS from the read/write work mode to the read-only mode; switching the work mode of a second RLS from the read-only mode to the read/write work mode; and after the work modes of the first and second RLSs are switched, writing the high priority data into a second storage segment referenced by the second RLS by copying the high priority data from the RAM into the storage segment referenced by the second RLS.
This invention relates to reducing read latency in storage systems for host computers. The problem addressed is the delay in accessing data from non-volatile storage media, particularly during high-priority write operations that can disrupt ongoing read operations. The solution involves a method that uses redundant logical segments (RLS) to manage data storage and retrieval efficiently. The method assigns each storage segment of the non-volatile storage to two RLSs: one in read/write mode and the other in read-only mode. When a high-priority data-write request is received from a host computer, the data is first written to a storage segment referenced by the RLS in read/write mode. Simultaneously, the data is also written to a RAM device. The work mode of the first RLS is then switched from read/write to read-only, while the second RLS is switched from read-only to read/write. After the mode switch, the high-priority data is copied from the RAM into the storage segment referenced by the second RLS. This approach ensures that read operations can continue uninterrupted while high-priority writes are processed, thereby reducing read latency and improving overall system performance. The use of redundant RLSs and RAM buffering allows for seamless transitions between read and write operations without compromising data availability.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising cyclically alternating the attribution of the RLSs' work modes, to switch the modes between the read/write work mode and the read-only work mode.
This invention relates to a system for managing redundant load-sharing (RLS) units in a computing or storage environment, addressing the need for high availability and fault tolerance. The system includes multiple RLS units configured to share workloads, where each RLS unit operates in either a read/write mode or a read-only mode. The invention ensures continuous operation by dynamically adjusting the work modes of the RLS units to maintain redundancy and prevent single points of failure. The method involves cyclically alternating the work modes of the RLS units, switching them between read/write and read-only states. This cyclic alternation helps distribute workloads evenly, reduces wear on individual units, and enhances system reliability by ensuring that at least one RLS unit remains in read/write mode while others operate in read-only mode. The system may also include a controller or management module that monitors the RLS units and triggers mode switches based on predefined criteria, such as performance thresholds or failure detection. The invention is particularly useful in high-availability systems where uninterrupted access to data is critical, such as in enterprise storage, cloud computing, or distributed databases.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: upon receiving a low priority data-write request from the at least one host computer, writing the data into a storage segment referenced by an RLS that is attributed a read/write work mode; and upon receiving a low priority data-read request from the at least one host computer, reading the data from the storage segment it was written to, regardless of the RLS's attributed work mode.
This invention relates to data storage systems, specifically managing data writes and reads in a storage system with multiple hosts. The problem addressed is efficiently handling low-priority data operations while maintaining performance and consistency in a storage environment where storage segments are dynamically assigned read/write or read-only modes via Read/Write Lock States (RLS). The system includes a storage controller that manages storage segments, each associated with an RLS indicating its current work mode (read/write or read-only). For low-priority data-write requests from a host, the controller writes the data into a storage segment that is in a read/write mode. For low-priority data-read requests, the controller reads the data from the same storage segment where it was written, regardless of the segment's current RLS mode. This ensures that low-priority reads can access data even if the segment has transitioned to read-only mode, maintaining data availability. The system prioritizes high-priority operations by dynamically adjusting RLS modes, while low-priority operations are handled in a way that minimizes disruption to system performance. This approach balances data consistency and availability for different priority levels in a shared storage environment.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: upon receiving a high priority data-read request from the at least one host computer, reading the data from a storage segment referenced by an RLS that is attributed a read-only work mode.
This invention relates to data storage systems, specifically methods for managing data access in a storage system with multiple hosts. The problem addressed is ensuring efficient and prioritized data access while maintaining data integrity and performance, particularly when handling high-priority read requests. The method involves a storage system that includes at least one host computer and a storage device with multiple storage segments. Each storage segment is associated with a Read-Location Segment (RLS), which tracks the location of data within the storage system. The RLS can be assigned different work modes, including a read-only mode, which restricts modifications to the data while allowing read operations. When a high-priority data-read request is received from a host computer, the system reads the requested data from a storage segment that is attributed a read-only work mode. This ensures that the data remains unchanged during the read operation, preventing conflicts or corruption that could arise from concurrent write operations. By prioritizing high-priority read requests and accessing data from segments in read-only mode, the system maintains data consistency and optimizes performance for critical operations. The method may also include additional steps such as tracking data locations, managing work modes, and handling lower-priority requests to ensure efficient overall system operation.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: if the high priority data-write request is followed by a high priority data-read request for the same storage segment as for the high priority data write request, before the RLS's work mode has been alternated, then serving the high priority data-read request by reading the data from the RAM.
This invention relates to data storage systems, specifically optimizing the handling of high-priority data requests in a redundant load-sharing (RLS) system. The problem addressed is the inefficiency in processing high-priority data-read requests that follow high-priority data-write requests for the same storage segment, particularly when the RLS work mode has not yet been alternated. The system includes a redundant load-sharing mechanism that manages data storage and retrieval across multiple storage segments. When a high-priority data-write request is received, the system writes the data to a random access memory (RAM) and updates the storage segment metadata. If a subsequent high-priority data-read request targets the same storage segment before the RLS work mode alternates, the system bypasses the usual retrieval process and directly reads the data from the RAM. This avoids unnecessary delays and ensures faster access to recently written high-priority data. The method ensures that high-priority data-read requests are served efficiently by leveraging the RAM for immediate access, reducing latency and improving system performance. The approach is particularly useful in environments where low-latency access to recently written data is critical, such as in real-time data processing or high-performance computing systems. The invention optimizes the interaction between write and read operations, minimizing the overhead associated with mode alternation in the RLS system.
6. A system for reducing read latency in a storage media associated with at least one host computer, the system comprising: a plurality of storage segments comprised within at least one storage device; a Random-Access Memory (RAM) device and a processor, wherein the processor is configured to: assign each storage segment to one of a first Read Latency Set (RLS) and a second RLS, wherein the first RLS is attributed a read/write mode, and the second RLS is attributed a read-only mode; upon receiving a high priority data-write request of a data object from the at least one host computer, simultaneously write the high priority data into the RAM device and into a storage segment referenced by a first RLS that is attributed a read/write work mode; switch the work mode of the first RLS to the read-only mode; switch the work mode of a second RLS from the read-only mode to the read/write mode; and after the work modes of the first and second RLSs are switched, copy the high priority data from the RAM into the storage segment referenced by the second RLS.
The system reduces read latency in storage media used by host computers by managing data writes and reads across multiple storage segments. The storage media includes multiple segments within at least one storage device, a RAM device, and a processor. The processor assigns each storage segment to one of two Read Latency Sets (RLS): a first RLS in read/write mode and a second RLS in read-only mode. When a high-priority data-write request is received from a host computer, the system simultaneously writes the data to RAM and to a storage segment in the first RLS, which is in read/write mode. The first RLS is then switched to read-only mode, while the second RLS is switched from read-only to read/write mode. After the mode switch, the high-priority data is copied from RAM to the storage segment in the second RLS. This approach ensures that read operations can continue uninterrupted from the read-only RLS while high-priority writes are processed, reducing latency by avoiding conflicts between read and write operations. The system dynamically alternates the roles of the RLSs to maintain continuous data availability and minimize delays.
7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the processor is configured to cyclically alternate the attribution of each RLSs' work mode such that for each RLS the mode is switched between the read/write work mode and the read-only work mode.
This invention relates to a system for managing redundant load-sharing (RLS) units in a computing or storage environment. The problem addressed is ensuring continuous availability and data integrity in systems where multiple RLS units share workloads, particularly during maintenance or failure scenarios. The system includes a processor that dynamically adjusts the operational modes of the RLS units to balance performance and reliability. Each RLS unit can operate in either a read/write mode, allowing full data access and modification, or a read-only mode, restricting operations to data retrieval only. The processor cyclically alternates the work modes of the RLS units, ensuring that no single unit remains in the read/write mode indefinitely. This rotation prevents overloading any unit and maintains redundancy by periodically switching units between modes. The system ensures that at least one RLS unit is always available in read/write mode for active operations, while others are temporarily restricted to read-only to reduce risk. This approach improves fault tolerance and system resilience by distributing workloads and minimizing the impact of potential failures or maintenance tasks. The cyclic alternation also allows for seamless transitions without service disruption, ensuring high availability.
8. The system of claim 6 , wherein the processor is configured to: upon receiving a low priority data-write request of a data object from the at least one host computer, then write the data into a storage segment referenced by an RLS that is attributed a read/write work mode; and upon receiving a low priority data-read request from the at least one host computer, then read the data from the storage segment it was written to, regardless of the RLS's attributed work mode.
This invention relates to a data storage system that manages data writes and reads based on priority and storage segment attributes. The system addresses the challenge of efficiently handling low-priority data operations while ensuring data consistency and availability. The system includes a processor that processes data requests from host computers and a storage device with segments managed by Read/Write Lock States (RLS). Each RLS can be in a read-only or read/write mode, controlling access to the storage segments. For low-priority data-write requests, the processor writes the data into a storage segment that is currently in a read/write mode. This ensures that the write operation can proceed without conflicts. For low-priority data-read requests, the processor reads the data from the same storage segment where it was written, regardless of the RLS's current mode. This allows reads to access the latest data even if the segment has transitioned to a read-only state, maintaining data consistency. The system prioritizes low-priority operations by dynamically adjusting access based on the RLS mode, ensuring efficient storage management without disrupting higher-priority tasks. This approach optimizes storage performance by balancing read and write operations while maintaining data integrity.
9. The system of claim 6 , wherein the processor is further configured to: upon receiving a high priority data-read request from the at least one host computer, read the data from a storage segment referenced by an RLS that is attributed a read-only work mode.
The invention relates to a data storage system designed to improve efficiency and reliability in handling high-priority data-read requests from host computers. The system includes a processor and a storage device with multiple storage segments, each managed by a Read-Location Segment (RLS) that tracks the segment's state and access permissions. The RLS can be assigned different work modes, including a read-only mode, which restricts modifications to the data while allowing read operations. When the processor receives a high-priority data-read request from a host computer, it prioritizes the request by accessing the data from a storage segment that is currently in a read-only work mode. This ensures that the data is readily available without the risk of concurrent modifications, improving response times for critical operations. The system dynamically manages the RLS attributes to balance performance and data integrity, particularly in environments where high-priority requests must be processed quickly while maintaining system stability. This approach is useful in scenarios such as real-time analytics, financial transactions, or other applications where low-latency data access is essential.
10. The system of claim 6 , wherein the processor is further configured to: if the high priority data-write request is followed by a high priority data-read request for the same storage segment as for the high priority data write request, before the RLS's work mode has been switched, then serving the high priority data-read request by reading the data from the RAM.
This invention relates to data storage systems, specifically optimizing performance for high-priority data operations in systems with a RAM-based storage layer (RLS) that can switch between different operational modes. The problem addressed is ensuring low-latency access to frequently accessed data while maintaining efficient storage utilization. In such systems, high-priority data-write requests are initially stored in RAM, and the system may later switch the RLS to a different mode (e.g., flushing data to persistent storage). The invention improves performance by handling a subsequent high-priority data-read request for the same storage segment before the RLS mode switch occurs. When a high-priority write is followed by a high-priority read for the same segment, the system bypasses the mode-switching delay by directly reading the data from RAM, avoiding the need to wait for the RLS to transition. This ensures that frequently accessed data remains available with minimal latency while still allowing the system to eventually transition to a more storage-efficient mode. The solution is particularly useful in systems where real-time data access is critical, such as in high-performance computing or real-time analytics environments.
11. The system of claim 6 , further comprising a metadata table, configured to associate a virtual address of at least one stored data object to a plurality of physical addresses, where the data object is duplicated across different RLSs.
A data storage system is designed to manage and retrieve data objects efficiently across multiple redundant logical storage (RLS) systems. The system addresses the challenge of tracking and accessing duplicated data objects stored in different physical locations within these RLS systems. A metadata table is used to map a single virtual address of a data object to multiple physical addresses where the object is redundantly stored. This allows the system to locate and retrieve the data object from any of the available physical locations, improving fault tolerance and data availability. The metadata table ensures that the system can efficiently manage and access duplicated data objects, even when they are distributed across different RLS systems. This approach enhances data reliability and reduces the risk of data loss by providing multiple access points to the same data object. The system is particularly useful in environments where data redundancy and high availability are critical, such as in enterprise storage solutions or distributed computing systems.
12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the processor is further configured to manage an overwrite of a high-priority, duplicated data object by: rewriting the data object in a duplicated plurality of locations on different RLSs; invalidating the previous duplicated instantiations of the data object; and updating the metadata table according to the changed physical storage addresses of the high-priority data object.
This invention relates to data storage systems, specifically managing high-priority data objects in a redundant storage environment. The system addresses the challenge of ensuring data integrity and availability when overwriting critical data in a distributed storage architecture. The system includes multiple redundant logical storage systems (RLSs) and a metadata table that tracks the physical storage locations of data objects. When a high-priority data object is overwritten, the system rewrites the data object across multiple distinct locations on different RLSs to maintain redundancy. The previous copies of the data object are then invalidated to prevent stale data access. Finally, the metadata table is updated to reflect the new physical storage addresses of the overwritten data object, ensuring accurate tracking of its current locations. This process ensures that high-priority data remains consistently available and protected against failures by maintaining redundancy during updates. The system is designed to handle dynamic storage environments where data objects may be duplicated across multiple storage nodes, and it prioritizes the reliability of critical data through controlled overwrite operations.
13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the processor is further configured to perform garbage collection (GC) on a data object that is duplicated on a first storage segment and a second storage segment by: copying a first duplication of the data object from the first valid storage segment to second third storage segment, wherein the third storage segment is in an RLS different from the second storage segment; invalidating the first duplication of the data object on the first storage segment; and updating the metadata table to reflect the corresponding change in the physical address of the first duplication of the data object.
This invention relates to data storage systems, specifically managing data duplication and garbage collection in a storage environment with redundant logical segments (RLS). The problem addressed is efficiently reclaiming storage space by consolidating duplicated data objects while maintaining data integrity and availability. The system includes a processor that performs garbage collection on a data object duplicated across multiple storage segments. The processor copies a first instance of the duplicated data object from a valid first storage segment to a third storage segment, where the third segment belongs to a different RLS than the second storage segment. After copying, the first instance on the first storage segment is invalidated, and the metadata table is updated to reflect the new physical address of the data object. This ensures that the data remains accessible while freeing up space in the first storage segment. The system also includes mechanisms for identifying valid storage segments, managing metadata updates, and ensuring data consistency during garbage collection. The process minimizes disruption by operating within the constraints of the RLS architecture, allowing seamless data migration without service interruption. This approach optimizes storage utilization by reducing redundant copies while maintaining fault tolerance.
14. The system of claim 6 , wherein the processor is further configured to receive at least one parameter, associated with a characteristic of at least one storage device and select a specific target storage device for each data object, to balance a load between different storage devices according to each storage device's characteristics.
A system for optimizing data storage distribution across multiple storage devices is described. The system addresses the challenge of efficiently distributing data objects across storage devices with varying performance characteristics, such as speed, capacity, or reliability, to ensure balanced load distribution and optimal resource utilization. The system includes a processor that receives at least one parameter associated with a characteristic of each storage device, such as read/write speed, latency, or available capacity. Using these parameters, the processor selects a specific target storage device for each data object to balance the load across the storage devices according to their individual characteristics. This ensures that no single storage device is overburdened, improving overall system performance and reliability. The system dynamically adjusts storage allocation based on real-time or predefined parameters, allowing for adaptive load balancing. This approach is particularly useful in environments with heterogeneous storage devices, where different devices may have varying capabilities and performance metrics. The system enhances data storage efficiency by intelligently distributing data objects to storage devices that can handle the load most effectively, reducing bottlenecks and improving system responsiveness.
15. A method for managing, by a processor, high priority data access requests of at least one host computer to a storage device, method comprising: receiving a high priority write access request from the at least one host computer: simultaneously writing data of the high priority write access to a first segment of the storage device and to a RAM device, wherein the first segment is attributed a read/write working mode; switching the work mode of the first segment from read/write working mode to a read-only working mode; switching a work mode of a second storage segment of the storage device from a read-only work mode to a read/write work mode: and copying data of the high priority write access from the RAM device to the second segment of the storage device after both the work mode of the first segment and the work mode of the second segment are switched.
This invention relates to a method for managing high-priority data access requests from host computers to a storage device, addressing the need for reliable and efficient handling of critical data writes. The method involves receiving a high-priority write request from a host computer and simultaneously writing the data to both a first storage segment and a RAM device. The first segment operates in a read/write mode during this initial write operation. After the write is complete, the first segment's mode is switched to read-only, ensuring data integrity by preventing further modifications. Concurrently, a second storage segment, initially in read-only mode, is switched to read/write mode. The data from the RAM device is then copied to the second segment, completing the process. This approach ensures that high-priority data is redundantly stored and accessible while minimizing downtime and maintaining data consistency. The method leverages dual storage segments and RAM to provide fault tolerance and seamless transitions between storage segments, improving reliability for critical data operations.
16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising periodically alternating the work modes of the first segment and the second segment to switch between the read/write work mode and the read-only work mode.
A method for managing data storage in a segmented storage system addresses the challenge of maintaining data availability and integrity during operations. The system includes at least two segments, each capable of operating in either a read/write mode or a read-only mode. The method involves dynamically adjusting the work modes of these segments to optimize performance and reliability. Specifically, the segments periodically alternate between read/write and read-only modes to ensure continuous data access while minimizing disruptions. This alternation allows one segment to handle active data operations (read/write) while the other remains in a stable, read-only state, reducing the risk of data corruption or loss. The method ensures that data remains accessible even if one segment experiences issues, as the other segment can seamlessly take over operations. This approach is particularly useful in systems requiring high availability and fault tolerance, such as enterprise storage solutions or distributed databases. The periodic switching between modes helps balance workloads and maintain system efficiency.
17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising receiving a high priority read access request from the at least one host computer; and reading the requested data from a storage segment that is in a read-only mode.
This invention relates to data storage systems, specifically methods for managing read access requests in a storage environment where data segments may be in a read-only mode. The problem addressed is ensuring efficient and prioritized data access while maintaining data integrity in systems where certain storage segments are restricted to read-only operations. The method involves receiving a high-priority read access request from a host computer and responding by reading the requested data from a storage segment that is currently in a read-only mode. This ensures that critical data can still be accessed even when the segment is locked for modifications. The approach likely integrates with a broader system for managing storage segments, where segments can be dynamically transitioned between read-write and read-only states based on system conditions, such as data consistency checks, backups, or maintenance operations. The method prioritizes high-priority requests to prevent delays in accessing essential data, which is crucial for applications requiring low-latency access or real-time processing. By allowing reads from read-only segments, the system avoids the need to wait for segments to be unlocked, improving overall performance and reliability. This technique is particularly useful in distributed storage systems, databases, or file systems where data availability and consistency are critical.
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June 16, 2020
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